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Saturday, July 11, 2009

Studio Saturday - Horsin' Around

Opps! Looks like our editors are still on vacation, if only in their minds. Here is a late edition of Studio Saturday. Enjoy!

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Last week's winner is MAKUstudio. Congratulations! You have won a surprise Humblebead!. Send me your address and I will get that right out to you.

As you read last week, I'm enjoying 25 long vacation days on the lakeshore in Michigan. I have been loving every minute of it. I have been setting up a little table on the screened in porch and making beads and jewelry. So relaxing. Sometimes when beads are your living, it can suck the joy out of creating. Deadlines looms, orders need to be filled and your muse sits in the back of the studio pouting throwing out all sorts of wonderful ideas and distractions that have to wait until less busy days. So finally, I have less busy days and have been making the most of them.

I have had a chance to bead a few pieces that fit into our monthly challenge theme. I enjoy playing along with the rest of you. Although I don't count myself in for the prizes. I know, pout away little muse! Above is my Wild Horses bracelet. The horse charm is from Green Girl Studios and you can pick one up from our sponsor this month, BeadLady. I threw in some golden branch disk beads by me, stones and lots of copper.

Golden Lantern Earrings with the same golden branch disk beads.

And the last one, I'm calling the "The Way of the Dodo". This one has one of my new eggs, a brass feather, stones, lotus pod beads and a little brass nest. Kinda' Flinestoney, eh? I have filled up 1/2 the table with my new creations. Now to pull out that camera!

So, how are your entries for this month going? Finished one, have one on your desk? Scratching your head at this months' theme? Let me know in the comments section and one lucky winner will receive one of my new eggs. Happy Creating!

Heather, your pieces are all beautiful, and I'm loving your new speckled eggs!

As for the ABS challenge, I was bidding frantically on ebay for a hand-cut stone pendant that had markings very similar to the painting--it would have been the perfect focal for a neckalce. ButI lost the auction and have not come up with an alternate plan as of yet. But the month is not over yet!

I am definitely scratching my head and wondering how to portray this painting in jewelry. I always think so literal, in the sense of using horses. I hope to use some awesome lampwork glass beads from Kelleys Beads that work with the color scheme, but am wondering what to use as the focal along with them.Definitely a challenge!!

really awesome pieces! your muse must be twirling around & smiling because she got some time in! my entry is still in the percolating stage... have lots of organic/earthy colors at my disposal, it's the execution of the design that is gelling... enjoy the vaca -

I'm glad you're having fun (and staying cool) on your vacation! I have a couple of ideas brewing for this month's challenge...I found some beads on Etsy that I am thinking of using. Now, I just need to sit down and put it together. I've already been super productive this weekend, so maybe I will get it done before I get on vacation...Otherwise, I will have a job to do when I get back...

And, I love the necklaces! Your new egg beads are super cute - I have held off on ordering any because I am working on projects with what I already have right now :o)

I was lucky enough that the handmade glass cabochons that I received last month contained a moose, he seemed perfect for the challenge. I beaded him up to reflect the natural striations of the rock from the inspiration painting, and bam! ABS challenge entry!

I tried my hand at faux stone, but it didn't turn out the way I had hoped. Usually, my first idea for the challenge doesn't work out, which then frustrates me for a while until I get something else done at practically the last minute. Well, most of the time, sometimes not. I'm really fascinated by this month's challenge, though, so I hope creativity will strike again.And btw. I love that Dodo necklace, colours, theme, everything!

I do love the Way of the Dodo!Fantastic name.Were you thinking of dodos' as you made that egg,or did it kinda out grow the nest?I keep telling myself I'm going to enter,I'm really going to try this one.I have all the colors,I'm trying the metal etching,just need a good art bead to bring it together!And,Heather,I love your necklace!

I am almost finished. All I have to do now is assemble it. I am just not sure on how I will do that just yet. I have tried a couple of different ways that have not turned out well but I do have one more idea that I think will work. Then I will bring the camera out and off she goes. I love these contests.

To be honest I'm waiting for the divine vision to be born. Hand made beads are sooooo hard for me to find here. Ordering from the States works if there is someone coming down for a visit that doesn't mind being a "mule" :) I do have an old etched African bead that is sitting on the desk trying to become the focal. So all is not lost!! I do my best work in the last 48 hours :)